2015 cadillac escalade Reviews and News

Just like the city from which they hail, the 2015 Cadillac Escalade and 2015 Lincoln Navigator have been renewed and rejuvenated. Big, truck-based luxury SUVs faced just as rocky a road as the Motor City over the past 10 years, yet both the Escalade and the Navigator got a new lease despite all the odds. Pricey gas, economic recession, and vehicular downsizing be damned, full-size luxury SUVs are here to stay.

That's not to say these behemoths haven't changed. Updated powertrains, an increased number of luxury gadgets, and more modern designs help the 2015 Cadillac Escalade and 2015 Lincoln Navigator stay relevant in today's new-car market. The SUVs are better than ever, but stark differences remain between Detroit's luxury giants.

One of the biggest disparities comes at the F&I desk, where prospective shoppers will find themselves spending far more for an Escalade than a Navigator. As tested, this Escalade demands an extra $15,960 from buyers than the Navigator. Even at this price level, that's a big gap -- although part of it stems from the fact that the Cadillac had features such as adaptive cruise control and a flip-down DVD player not fitted to the Lincoln. But, ultimately, anyone scrimping and saving to buy a new SUV probably shouldn't be looking at either of these vehicles. The question is, then, is how much luxury SUV buyers are willing to spend for a more premium experience.

Fixed Up, Looking Sharp

Of this pair, the 2015 Cadillac Escalade attracts the most attention. Its tidy, creased sheetmetal and elegant lighting stand out from the crowd. It's a modern take on what it means to build a big, boxy SUV, and the taut lines make the new Escalade look leaner and smaller than its measurements suggest. With LED lighting front and rear, it's easy to pick the Caddy out of the sea of crossovers in traffic.

The 2015 Lincoln Navigator, on the other hand, could be any Navigator from years past. Though there's a new split-wing chrome grille up front and reshaped lighting on the liftgate, little has changed compared to when Lincoln first entered the luxury SUV game. It's an indubitably stylish vehicle, but there's not much more curb appeal than in a loaded-up Ford Expedition. The '15 Navigator is a reheated version of last year's model while the Escalade is brand new, and the age difference shows.

That’s also the case inside, where Cadillac's matte wood and leather upholstery shout “luxury car.” The full-LCD instrument cluster can be reconfigured in countless ways, and all the physical switchgear is solid to the touch. Navigator drivers face a tiny analog speedometer sandwiched within a small color display. Prominent protrusions from the dashboard create an interesting shape, and leather and wood are available, but mostly this interior is plain and dated.

The most compelling practical reason for buying these big SUVs versus smaller offerings is the amount of room in the third row. The 2015 Lincoln Navigator more readily swallows a seventh and eighth occupant. Compared to the Escalade, the Lincoln's lower rear floor provides more legroom. We're plenty comfortable sitting in the third row on a sushi run at lunchtime, but those crammed in the rear of the Cadillac grouse about scrunched knees. The Navigator's cargo area also has a slightly lower liftover height, making it that much easier to fit boxes or luggage in the back. Whether you’re hauling people or boxes, the Navigator easily wins.

Same Road, Two Paths

Of course, these big vehicles are not purchased for their utility. They are personal luxury cars, in the same manner as the big Eldorados and Continentals were in earlier epochs. When you’re in the driver’s seat, it’s the 2015 Cadillac Escalade that impresses. Though it remains a body-on-frame SUV, the newest Escalade has such carlike reflexes you can drive it like you would a much smaller crossover. The Cadillac is nimble and composed, with light steering and little of the boatlike body roll of older Escalades. Despite the SUV’s length, we quickly find ourselves comfortable slipping in and out of freeway traffic, and we don't even sweat when negotiating busy city streets. This is a thoroughly new, modern taste of how a big SUV should drive.

The 6.2-liter V-8 engine is a bit of a throwback, but with cylinder deactivation and an eight-speed automatic transmission, fuel efficiency is up to an acceptable level for such a large, capable vehicle. We still love that hearty pushrod power when accelerating onto the highway, the eight-speed changes gears so deftly as to be unnoticeable to most drivers.

The 2015 Lincoln Navigator has dropped its V-8, hoping that the popular 3.5-liter twin-turbo EcoBoost V-6 is the replacement for displacement. The engine makes 40 fewer horsepower than the Cadillac’s V-8 and certainly doesn’t sound as good. But the EcoBoost’s torque curve swells so much earlier in the rev range (2,750 rpm versus 4,100 rpm in the Escalade) that the Navigator more definitively shoves you into your leather seat.

The rest of the Navigator driving experience is less modern, reminding us more so than does the Escalade that these luxomobiles are essentially body-on-frame pickups. Despite its Continuously Controlled Damping adaptive suspension, the Lincoln’s heavy steering and extreme body roll sap any confidence to thread the Navigator into smaller gaps. If the Escalade drives like it’s 80 percent of its real size, the Navigator feels 10 percent larger than it really is. Where Cadillac has made its full-size SUV easy and almost fun to drive, piloting the Lincoln is still something of a chore.

At the pump, the SUVs return basically the same fuel efficiency. The ability of Cadillac to shut off several cylinders, plus the super-low cruising rpm enabled by its eight-speed transmission, versus the six-speed in the Lincoln, actually allows the big V-8 to score 1 mpg better on the highway than Ford’s downsized V-6. Both manage 17 mpg in the city, which isn’t bad for a large, four-wheel-drive SUV but still sounds rather low by modern standards.

Style and Sensibility

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade and the 2015 Lincoln Navigator are the Shinola watches of the luxury SUV world. Prettier and more finely crafted than a Chevy Tahoe, Ford Expedition -- the comparative Timexes of this segment -- but no more functional, the Escalade and Navigator appeal to shoppers for purely subjective reasons: style, interior luxuries, badge prestige, conspicuous consumption. If you want a full-size luxury SUV, push aside rational concerns that the Lincoln is roomier and more affordable, and treat yourself to the glitzy 2015 Cadillac Escalade. The Navigator is a wonderful vehicle that will satisfy many buyers' needs to blend utility and comfort, but the Cadillac represents a fresher, more modern recipe for what a large personal luxury vehicle should be in 2015.

The Escalade has loomed large in the public consciousness—and in the public’s rear-view mirrors—as the high-riding, high-profile Caddy with the mostest. As the brand’s overseers view it, though, the division’s center of gravity has shifted away from the Escalade toward Cadillac’s fresh portfolio of passenger cars. Still, the Escalade is a highly profitable model, and it was number two in the luxury-SUV derby last year. With General Motors redoing its Chevrolet and GMC full-size SUVs (from which the Escalade springs), the big Caddy came along for the ride, polished and improved but definitely not reimagined.

Cadillac did consider moving the Escalade to the GMC Acadia/Buick Enclave platform of three-row crossovers, but consumer clinic participants deemed the resulting vehicle Not An Escalade. So the new Escalade hews to the same familiar formula: body-on-frame construction, suspension of front coil springs and a solid rear axle, naturally aspirated V-8, six-speed automatic transmission, rear- or four-wheel drive, two lengths/wheelbases, and a standard third-row seat.

LEDs and more LEDs

The new sheet metal—shared with its Chevrolet and GMC platform-mates, save for the tailgate and the front clip—is starched and flattened, and the greenhouse is squared off. The design is punctuated by 22-inch wheels (on all but the base model), a towering stack of full-LED headlights, and what must be the industry’s tallest LED taillights. The new styling not only harmonizes better with the rest of the Cadillac line, it also makes the Escalade look even more imposing.

Looks do not deceive. Although both versions feature the same stretch between the axles as before (116 inches for the standard Escalade, 130 inches for the ESV), they are slightly greater in length (1.4 inches) and width (1.5 inches). Only the height has come down slightly, in the service of aerodynamics.

Cabin makes quantum leap in style and quality

Inside that big box is a cabin that has made a quantum leap in style and material quality from the outgoing model. (In retrospect, the 2014 Escalade’s interior already seems not even good enough for a pickup truck.) The new version is impressively decked out in leather and synthetic suede, with metal accents and different wood trim for each of the three color schemes. The dash architecture is unique to Cadillac and incorporates virtual gauges in a TFT screen in place of the instrument cluster and, of course, the CUE touch-panel interface, which remains impressively modern looking but distressingly distracting to use. New tech helpers include lane departure warning, forward collision warning, and rear cross-traffic alert. While a backup camera is standard, a top-view camera is conspicuous by its absence. A panoramic glass sunroof, an amenity that is increasingly common in this class—and in less expensive vehicles as well—is not offered.

Space inefficiency

For such a big vehicle, the Escalade’s space utilization is wanting. The cargo floor now steps up, which was necessary to allow the second- and third-row seats to fold flat (via a pushbutton just inside the tailgate). It’s not an elegant solution, but we agree that pushing a button to stow the seats certainly beats lugging them out of the car. Owners can remove the stepped-up load-floor base (it’s a shallow stowage bin) if they need every last inch of cargo height. The taller floor means there’s now barely enough space for two wheelie bags behind the third-row seat in the standard Escalade, although most buyers will keep those seats stowed anyway, because no one will want to sit back there. The near-total lack of a foot well makes the third row unusable for kids much past elementary school. As before, to get a truly usable third row, you need to upgrade to the ESV, which also offers very good cargo capacity even with all three rows in use. In the second row, the vast majority of buyers specify individual seats (a three-person bench is a no-cost option) but, strangely, Cadillac does not put a console between them. At least climbing into and out of either set of back seats is easier, thanks to reshaped B- and C-pillars. Up front, the (heated and cooled) front seats are Cadillac’s own design, with just the right amount of lateral shaping and under-thigh support, but the lack of a footrest for the driver is an annoying oversight.

Much quieter, slightly more fuel efficient

That interior is a quiet place to spend time, thanks to a host of new sound-deadening measures. The 6.2-liter V-8—seen also in the GMC Yukon Denali—barely murmurs at idle. Now with direct injection and variable cam phasing, it makes 420 hp and 460 pound-feet of torque, eclipsing the previous version’s 403 hp and 407 lb-ft. At the same time, it ekes out a bit better gas mileage: 14 or 15 mpg city, 20 or 21 mpg on the highway. The V-8 moves both the standard-wheelbase Escalade and the ESV with authority, but if you’d rather leave the driving to computers, adaptive cruise control with brake-to-stop (an Escalade exclusive) is newly available—although it isn’t the smoothest chauffeur in stop-and-go driving. Doing our own braking, however, we found improved pedal modulation, and the steering, formerly overly light, is now pleasantly weighted.

No longer a shuddering mess

Ride quality was the area in greatest need of improvement, as the old model was a shuddering mess over bumps. The gentle environs of South Carolina’s low country, where we drove the new car, didn’t provide quite the test that New York or Detroit’s crumbling infrastructure would, but much of the bad behavior appears to be gone. There’s still some busyness to the ride, though, mostly noticeable from the rear seat. The engineers point to redesigned body mounts for the improved rigidity, although the Escalade again utilizes GM’s magnetic ride control—with tour and sport modes that, frankly, felt little different.

Escalade fans will approve

If you liked the previous Escalade, you’ll like this one. It’s sharper looking outside, more luxurious inside, and somewhat better to drive. But as SUVs become more global and more brands enter the upper end of the spectrum, the luxury SUV market is shifting away from vehicles like the Escalade. (Already, the Mercedes-Benz GL is the bestselling large, luxury SUV.) At some point, Cadillac is going to have to redefine the Escalade and move this concept forward to a more modern layout that can provide similar accommodations and capabilities in a more efficient package. As Cadillac design director Andrew Smith said, “All great Cadillacs, in their day, were forward looking.” The Escalade should be too.

New for 2015

The Cadillac Escalade receives a significant update for 2015, including a new exterior with lots of LEDs, more power from the 6.2-liter V-8, a quieter and more luxurious cabin, and the latest technology.

Summary

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade is powered by a 6.2-liter V-8 that produces 420 hp and 460 lb-ft of torque, and is paired with an eight-speed automatic that drives the rear wheels, but can be combined with an all-wheel-drive system to power all four. EPA-estimated fuel economy is 15/22 mpg city/highway with RWD, and 15/21 mpg with 4WD. Luxury is brought up to a higher level with the addition of a standard power-folding third row, heated/cooled front seats, a heated second row, tri-zone climate control, 4G LTE Wi-Fi, wireless charging (inductive system requires a device specific case), and a 16-speaker Bose premium audio system.

Driver focused features include a full-color head-up display, 4-way reconfigurable gauge display, CUE infotainment system, multi-camera panoramic parking aid, hands-free keyless access with push button start, intelligent headlights (high beams switch off when other headlights or taillights are detected), and GM’s Safety Alert Seat. Cadillac explained that the seat, a segment exclusive, “sends pulses through the seat cushion on the left or right or simultaneously, alerting you to a variety of potential hazards as well as the direction they’re coming from.” Topping out the range, starting above $80,000, is the Platinum line that takes opulence to a new level, with features such as semi-Aniline Nappa leather, a massaging driver’s seat, three rear monitors (dual 7-inch screens in the headrests and a 9-inch overhead screen) for the rear-seat entertainment system, an 8.3-liter cooled center console, a sueded microfiber headliner, and unique two wood accent options for the interior.

The 2015 Cadillac Escalade has not been comprehensively evaluated, but received five stars in the side crash category and three stars for rollover safety in NHSTA testing (out of a possible five stars). The IIHS has not crash tested a 2015 Cadillac Escalade yet.

What We Think

The newly redesigned 2015 Cadillac Escalade gains more polish and a bunch more LEDs. In a Driven review of a 2015 Escalade we said, “The new styling not only harmonizes better with the rest of the Cadillac line, it also makes the Escalade look even more imposing.” We praised the interior as much improved over the previous generation, noting it “is impressively decked out in leather and synthetic suede, with metal accents and different wood trim for each of the three color schemes. The dash architecture is unique to Cadillac and incorporates virtual gauges in a TFT screen in place of the instrument cluster and, of course, the CUE touch-panel interface, which remains impressively modern looking but distressingly distracting to use.”

Inside we couldn’t help but criticize the third row seat, saying “For such a big vehicle, the Escalade’s space utilization is wanting. The cargo floor now steps up, which was necessary to allow the second- and third-row seats to fold flat (via a pushbutton just inside the tailgate) … The near-total lack of a foot well makes the third row unusable for kids much past elementary school. As before, to get a truly usable third row, you need to upgrade to the ESV, which also offers very good cargo capacity even with all three rows in use.” The problem lies with the rear suspension, which necessitates the higher floor.

In a Driven review of the redesigned 2015 Escalade we said, “If you liked the previous Escalade, you’ll like this one. It’s sharper looking outside, more luxurious inside, and somewhat better to drive. But as SUVs become more global and more brands enter the upper end of the spectrum, the luxury SUV market is shifting away from vehicles like the Escalade. (Already, the Mercedes-Benz GL is the bestselling large, luxury SUV.) At some point, Cadillac is going to have to redefine the Escalade and move this concept forward to a more modern layout that can provide similar accommodations and capabilities in a more efficient package.”

You’ll Like

More powerful V-8 is more efficient, too

Opulent Platinum trim level

Smooth eight-speed automatic

You Won’t Like

Sitting in the regular model's third row

Using the CUE infotainment system

Not much cargo room with the third row in place

Key Competitors

Mercedes Benz GL-Class

Land Rover Range Rover

Infiniti QX80

Lexus LX 570

Lincoln Navigator

Rating

General Motors is investing $1.4 billion into its Arlington Assembly Plant where it builds full-size SUVs. The upgrade is part of a larger $5.4-billion investment into its U.S. manufacturing plants over the next three years.

If you thought the 2015 Cadillac Escalade was already luxurious, wait until you lay your eyes on the Cadillac Escalade Platinum Collection, which steps it up with more of everything that already makes the Escalade the king of luxury SUVs.

General Motors announced that certain 2015 Chevrolet and GMC SUVs and pickups will dump their six-speed automatic transmissions in favor of new eight-speed automatic transmissions. The 2015 Chevrolet Silverado, 2015 GMC Sierra, and 2015 GMC Yukon Denali/Yukon XL Denali will all add the new transmission when production of 2015 models begins later this year. Previously, the automaker announced that the 2015 Chevrolet Corvette would also start using an eight-speed automatic instead of the six-speed unit.

The overheated exhaust components may melt nearby plastic parts and may result in an engine fire.

Remedy

General Motors will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the engine control module, free of charge. The recall began on January 16, 2014. Owners may contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020 and GMC at 1-800-462-8782. General Motors' number for this recall is 14008.

Potential Units Affected

325,213

Notes

General Motors LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:40

Component

AIR BAGS

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles manufactured April 6, 2014, through May 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the air bag module is secured to a chute adhered to the backside of the instrument panel with an insufficiently heated infrared weld. This may result in only a partial deployment of the front passenger air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequences

In the event of an accident, an air bag that only partially deploys increases the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy

GM sent the owners an interim notification letter on May 16, 2014 to advise owners of the recall, and will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. When the parts are available, dealers will replace the instrument panel right side upper trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on June 9, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14220. Note: Owners are advised that until the vehicle has been remedied, occupants should not sit in the front passenger seat position.

Potential Units Affected

2,838

Notes

General Motors LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:41

Component

AIR BAGS

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel top cover on the affected vehicles may have been manufactured using an incorrect spacer fabric, causing a reduction of adhesion between the spacer fabric and the vinyl show surface. This reduced adhesion may result in inconsistent passenger air bag deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequences

Inconsistent air bag deployment increases the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel top cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14686.

Potential Units Affected

1,046

Notes

General Motors LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:40

Component

AIR BAGS

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles manufactured April 6, 2014, through May 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the air bag module is secured to a chute adhered to the backside of the instrument panel with an insufficiently heated infrared weld. This may result in only a partial deployment of the front passenger air bag in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequences

In the event of an accident, an air bag that only partially deploys increases the risk of occupant injury.

Remedy

GM sent the owners an interim notification letter on May 16, 2014 to advise owners of the recall, and will mail owners a second letter when remedy parts are available. When the parts are available, dealers will replace the instrument panel right side upper trim panel, free of charge. The recall began on June 9, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14220. Note: Owners are advised that until the vehicle has been remedied, occupants should not sit in the front passenger seat position.

Potential Units Affected

2,838

Notes

General Motors LLC

Recall Date

12-31-1969:21:35:41

Component

AIR BAGS

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV vehicles. The passenger side instrument panel top cover on the affected vehicles may have been manufactured using an incorrect spacer fabric, causing a reduction of adhesion between the spacer fabric and the vinyl show surface. This reduced adhesion may result in inconsistent passenger air bag deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequences

Inconsistent air bag deployment increases the risk of personal injury in the event of a crash necessitating air bag deployment.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the instrument panel top cover, free of charge. The recall began on November 11, 2014. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is 14686.